Frequently Asked Questions

Learn more by reading the Frequently Asked Questions below:

How Does Inspire Work?
  • Inspire works inside your body with your natural breathing process
  • It delivers mild stimulation to key airway muscles, allowing the airway to remain open during sleep
  • Inspire is controlled by a small handheld sleep remote

Will Inspire Work for You?

You may qualify for Inspire if you:

  • Have been diagnosed with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea
  • Struggle with or can’t get consistent benefit from CPAP
  • Are not significantly obese

Your doctor will also examine your airway and review your most recent sleep study

How Much Does Inspire Cost?
  • Most insurance providers covers Inspire
    • Broad private insurance coverage
    • Medicare coverage across the US
    • Many VA and Military Hospitals
  • Cost will depend on the details of your insurance plan

  • Most U.S. insurance companies cover Inspire
  • Over 400 insurance companies have covered the cost of Inspire for patients who meet the eligibility requirements
  • Typically, you can expect to pay any unmet deductible along with any copay or coinsurance fee for a surgery

  • Medicare is covered across the United States for those who meet criteria

  • Inspire is available for veterans at select VA and military hospitals across the US
  • Visit the Find a Doctor page or chat with an Inspire Advisor to see if there is a VA or military hospital near you that offers Inspire
  • If there is not a center near you, you can possibly utilize a program called the Community Care Program, allowing you to receive care at a civilian hospital
  • To contact Inspire’s dedicated VA Patient Liaison, email [email protected]

How to Prepare for Your Appointment
  • Bring your most recent sleep study
  • Be ready to talk about your struggles using CPAP and any sleep-related topics including:
    • Prescription sleep medication
    • Insomnia
    • Sleep anxiety
  • Write down any questions you have for the doctor

Steps to Get Inspire

There are three simple steps to sleeping with Inspire:

  • An airway exam
  • The Inspire procedure
  • Turning on Inspire & confirming the settings

Airway Exam
  • The airway exam is a very routine and non-surgical exam
  • You’re given a short-acting medication to put you to sleep. While you’re asleep, a camera records how your airway opens and closes
  • The whole exam only takes about 20 minutes, and when you’re done, you’ll find out if Inspire is right for you

Inspire Procedure
  • Inspire is placed under the skin, in a same-day, outpatient procedure that takes about two hours
  • Most patients take over-the-counter pain medication and resume non-strenuous activities within a few days
  • You can resume more strenuous activities within a couple of weeks

What Does Inspire Feel Like?
  • Inspire sends mild stimulation to the motor nerve that controls your tongue, moving it out of the way
  • The stimulation is very gentle and designed to move the tongue forward without disturbing your sleep. It should not be painful or uncomfortable.

Life with Inspire
  • Inspire should not limit your normal activities
  • The current model of Inspire can undergo MRI on the head, neck and extremities provided specific conditions are followed
  • Having a pacemaker should not disqualify you from becoming a candidate for Inspire

The visibility of the scars will depend on your skin tone and individual healing process. There are two or three incisions made to place the device. Each patient will have one incision under the chin and one below the collarbone. Some patients will also have one on the side of the rib cage.

James Morales
Inspire Date: June 15, 2017
Karen Wolk
Inspire Date: July 25, 2018
Lottie Davis
Inspire Date: March 26, 2019

  • Like CPAP, an Inspire doctor can print out a usage record of Inspire to show the medical examiner that you are using your prescribed sleep apnea treatment
  • By proving compliance, there should be no issues renewing your commercial driver’s license

  • A significant decrease in snoring has been found as a secondary effect of Inspire
  • 90% of bed partners report no or soft snoring by their partner

  • The battery in Inspire is designed to last for approximately 11 years
  • Once it is running low, it is replaced during a simple outpatient procedure

  • Generally, the Inspire system should be checked 1 to 2 times a year

Consequences of Untreated Sleep Apnea

Untreated sleep apnea can lead to serious risk of:

  • Stroke
  • Heart Attack
  • Diabetes
  • Workplace or automobile accidents

Treatment Options for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Treatment options for sleep apnea include:

  • Lifestyle Changes
    • Exercise
    • Not drinking alcohol before bedtime
    • Sleeping on your side
  • CPAP
  • Oral Appliance
  • Inspire
  • Surgery to remove blockages

Additional Questions

Ready to Find a Doctor?

Find a Doctor